2024-2025 Transitional Year Biographies
Saad Awan, M.D.
- Hometown: Mobile, AL
- Undergraduate: University of South Alabama
- Medical School: University of South Alabama
- Chosen Specialty: Radiology
- Institution: University of South Alabama
- What drew you to our program? I chose the Brookwood Baptist transitional year residency because of its excellent reputation for comprehensive training and its inviting atmosphere. The variety of electives offered was a strength that drew me to this great program. Birmingham, with its vibrant medical community and appealing lifestyle, was particularly attractive to me to keep family close by. This proximity is priceless, making Brookwood Baptist the perfect choice for my transitional year as I pursue my training in diagnostic radiology
Caroline Bennett, M.D.
- Hometown: Hayneville, AL
- Undergraduate: Troy University
- Medical School: University of Alabama Birmingham
- Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
- Institution: University of Alabama Birmingham
- What drew you to our program? The Brookwood Baptist Health Transitional Year Program provides a broad clinical experience between the Grandview and Princeton hospitals and offers numerous electives across a wide variety of specialties, allowing us to tailor our intern education to our interests and terminal program. Additionally, BBH’s perks are top-notch, such as free food, parking, and reimbursement for Step 3. What I appreciate most, however, is how incredibly kind, supportive, and welcoming the people are. The faculty and staff genuinely care about our well-being and education, consistently seek our feedback, and are eager to help us succeed this year and beyond. Overall, the program strikes a nice balance between providing a strong clinical education and providing a rotation schedule that allows for meaningful, well-rested time outside the hospital.
Pratheek Bobba, M.D.
- Hometown: Madison, AL
- Undergraduate: University of Alabama Birmingham
- Medical School: Yale University
- Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
- Institution: University of California San Francisco
- What drew you to our program? I initially chose to apply to the program, as it would give me the opportunity to be near friends and family during my transitional year before moving far away for radiology residency. What confirmed my interest in attending the program was the sense of camaraderie and departmental support that I had heard about from prior residents and experienced during my interview day. I am glad I ended up here and could not be happier!”
Andrew Bonner, M.D./MPH
- Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Undergraduate: Auburn University
Medical School: University of Alabama Birmingham
Chosen Specialty:
Institution:
What drew you to our program? I was initially drawn to the Brook wood Baptist TY because many older doctors had told me that they had a great experience with the program, and I enjoyed many of the people that I met on the interview day. Thus far, the program has exceeded my expectations, and the program administrators do a great job of making the TY program a great experience for residents. Birmingham is an awesome place to live, and I highly recommend the program to any potential applicants.
Rachel Branham, M.D.
- Hometown: Nashville, TN
- Undergraduate: Howard University
- Medical School: Meherry College
- Chosen Specialty: Dermatology
- Institution:
- What drew you to our program? I was particularly drawn to the TY program at BBH because of the supportive environment it fosters. During my interview, I had an incredibly positive experience, and everyone was extremely welcoming. I also appreciate that the TY program offers the chance to receive a solid internal medicine training while allowing the flexibility to rotate through various electives aligned with my training path. In addition, Birmingham has proven to be a wonderful city, with amazing restaurants and friendly people. I am very happy with my experience thus far and grateful to train at BBH.
Abraham Chen, M.D.
- Hometown:
- Undergraduate:
- Medical School: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta
- Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
- Institution: University of Alabama Birmingham
- What drew you to our program?I heard great things from my med school alumni, how the staff and residents are super nice and the structure of the program was very resident-friendly in terms of hours and benefits. I also applied with the Couples Match so staying in the same city for all my training was very important.
Vincent Czerwinski, M.D.
- Hometown: Mission, KS
- Undergraduate: University of Kansas
- Medical School: University of Kansas
- Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
- Institution: Maimonides
- What drew you to our program? I came to BBH because I felt the leaders had integrity based on our interview. .
Brandon Dodd, M.D.
- Hometown: Lexington, KY
- Undergraduate: Murray State University
- Medical School: University of Louisville
- Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
- Institution: University of Alabama Birmingham
- What drew you to our program? I chose to train at Brookwood Baptist Transitional Year for many reasons. Having spoken to several former residents, every single one said that they would train here again and they felt incredibly well prepared going into their advanced programs. Now that I am here, I know this to truly be the case. The collegiality and training environment is ideal, ensuring that everyone feels welcomed — this was immediately evident during my interview and second look. Furthermore, the broad exposure to various specialties through numerous electives will serve me well as I continue my training. This is accompanied by the fact that rotations are spread across two separate hospitals, which serve incredibly diverse patient populations and expose residents to both bread-and-butter pathology as well as unusual “zebras” that one would expect to find at a larger tertiary center. Finally, the fact that the program is located in Birmingham is a huge selling point. Not only is Birmingham a wonderful city, especially to raise a family in my case, but it is also the site of UAB where I will continue onto my diagnostic radiology training. Only having to move once is an incredible perk. In short, I am so fortunate to be training at Brookwood Baptist Transitional Year as it has lived up to every expectation and then some. I cannot imagine being anywhere else
Matthew Donald, M.D.
- Hometown: Pascagoula, MS
- Undergraduate: University of Memphis
- Graduate School: University of Mississippi
- Medical School: University of Mississippi
- Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
- Institution: Loma Linda University
- What drew you to our program? I was open to going to many different places across the country for my transitional year. Still, the impression I got from the Brookwood program was that they cared about their residents and wanted them to succeed both in their intern year and beyond. The TY provides a great number of opportunities for exposure to other fields, that I feel would be lacking from other programs. The city of Birmingham was also a great benefit, with all the amenities of city life paired with a great COL and access to the outdoors. If I had the option to choose anywhere else, I would not change having Brookwood TY as my top choice. Also, unlimited access to free food and full reimbursement for STEP 3.
Zoey Duncan, M.D.
- Hometown: Athens, AL
- Undergraduate: University of Alabama Birmingham
- Medical School: University of Alabama Birmingham
- Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
- Institution: Vanderbilt University
- What drew you to our program? I chose the Brookwood TY program because of the diversity of electives, encouraging faculty, and hands-on experience. The faculty are invested in cultivating growth, both professional and personal, in all of the residents! I truly could not have asked for a better program for my intern year!
Bella Fabian, M.D.
- Hometown:Estero, FL
Undergraduate: University of Florida
Medical School: LSU Shreveport
Chosen Specialty: Dermatology
Institution: LSU New Orleans
What drew you to our program? I heard great things about Brookwood Baptist from former residents in regards to the overall training and learning environment. When I interviewed, it was clear that the faculty were very supportive and the residents were happy. Additionally, I was excited that TY residents have the option to do a month of Dermatology and Dermpath as electives. Everyone has been so welcoming and I appreciate that the program values resident wellness.
Faraz Farhadi, M.D.
- Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Undergraduate: George Mason University
Medical School: Dartmouth University
Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital
What drew you to our program? The Transitional Year program at BBH stood out to me for its strong emphasis on comprehensive clinical training in a supportive and collaborative environment. The opportunity to rotate through a variety of specialties, while also having a focus on hospital medicine, was exactly what I was looking for to prepare me for my future in Radiology. The faculty and residents I met during the interview process were not only knowledgeable and dedicated to teaching but also genuinely invested in each other’s success. I appreciated the program’s commitment to resident wellness. Additionally, the chance to train in Birmingham, a city with a rich medical community and a welcoming atmosphere, made this program the perfect choice for my internship year.
Kaitlin Fields, M.D.
- Hometown: Memphis, TN
Undergraduate: University of Georgia
Medical School: University of Tennessee
Chosen Specialty: Dermatology
Institution: University of Tennessee
What drew you to our program? I was drawn to the TY program at Brookwood Baptist for several reasons including the opportunity to rotate in electives that will help me in my future career, including Dermatology and Dermatopathology. Along with this, I truly felt that this program cared about resident wellness. The faculty and co-residents are welcoming and approachable! After one month here, I can confidently say I am beyond happy with my decision. Overall, I believe BBH will give me a strong foundation as I continue to grow as a physician.
Taha Hmissa, M.D.
- Hometown: Ormond Beach, FL
Undergraduate: Florida Gulf Coast University
Medical School: Florida State University
Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Institution: University of Alabama Birmingham
What drew you to our program? I was drawn to Brookwood Baptist primarily due to the opportunities available to integrate my interests in radiology with a strong foundation in serving an underserved population. With a home radiology program, TY residents have unique access to learning from radiology staff that have an interest in teaching. The faculty here are all engaged in educating residents within all of my rotations so far and I cannot imagine a better experience to build foundational clinical skills.
Timea Kovacs, M.D.
- Hometown: Niceville, FL
Undergraduate: University of Florida
Medical School: Florida State University
Chosen Specialty: Dermatology
Institution: University of Alabama Birmingham
What drew you to our program? The residency program at BBH cultivates a welcoming learning environment and prioritizes wellness for its residents. The genuine commitment of the faculty and staff to our growth creates a supportive atmosphere that makes training here truly great. As someone going into Dermatology, the chance to do electives in both Dermatology and Dermatopathology is a significant bonus that truly sets this program apart. The diverse rotations, elective opportunities, and the chance to treat patients in the community setting all solidified my decision to train here. Additionally, staying in Birmingham for all years of my training is a wonderful added benefit.
Ryan Layton, M.D.
- Hometown: Winston Salem, NC
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University
Medical School: Wake Forest University
Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Institution: University of Cincinnati
What drew you to our program? I was introduced to BBH through a friend who matched into the TY program a year before me. He frequently emphasized his positive experience to me and encouraged me to come here. I am so grateful that I heeded his recommendation. I have been thoroughly impressed by the genuinely caring faculty, numerous elective opportunities, free food, balanced workload, and predictable hours. Additionally, it is located in a beautiful city with a good food scene and a plethora of recreational activities. If I could go back, I would choose this program again!
Kalissa Means, M.D.
- Hometown: Tuscaloosa, AL
- Undergraduate: University of Alabama Birmingham
- Medical School: University of Alabama Birmingham
- Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
- Institution: Wake Forest
- What drew you to our program? During my four years in Birmingham for medical school, I heard countless positive things about the BBH TY residency program. The camaraderie among residents was evident on my interview day, and the opportunity to work with a wide range of specialties was exactly what I sought in a program. Since starting, one of my favorite aspects has been how supportive and kind everyone is. They genuinely want to help us succeed and ensure we provide excellent care to our patients.
Meagan Olivet, M.D.
- Hometown: Vestavia Hills, AL
- Undergraduate: University of Mississippi
- Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Chosen Specialty: Dermatology
- Institution: University of Alabama at Birmingham
- What drew you to our program? I love that BBH is such a supportive and collegial learning environment. I knew that in my transitional year I would have the opportunity to learn in wide variety of settings with the most kind and knowledgeable faculty, staff, and co-residents.
Faaiz Saad, M.D., M.B.A.
- Hometown: Huntsville, AL
- Undergraduate: University of Alabama Birmingham
- Graduate School:University of Alabama Birmingham
- Medical School: University of Alabama Birmingham
- Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
- Institution: University of South Alabama
- What drew you to our program? When I was applying to residency, I had many friends in classes above me who went through the BBH TY program and they all could not recommend this program enough. After having been at this program for a month now I can see why- this program emphasizes learning and fosters a collegial environment that makes the transition from medical school to residency very smooth. From the great perks like free parking and food to the interesting pathologies we get to see and treat on a daily basis, I feel like the clinical training I receive here will be invaluable to my career as a radiologist.
Scout Treadwell, M.D.
- Hometown: Dadeville, AL
- Undergraduate: University of Mississippi
- Medical School: Tulane University
- Chosen Specialty: Dermatology
- Institution: Tulane University
- What drew you to our program? I knew I had chosen the right program on my very first day of residency when my attending handed me a box of blueberries! The culture at BBH is truly exceptional. The attending’s, upper-level residents, and co-interns are all here not just to teach but also to learn and laugh with you as well. After spending 8 years away from Alabama, it has been incredibly fulfilling to return and begin my medical career in my home state, serving a diverse patient population.